VOICE of St. Luke's - # 29
April 6, 2014

Becoming Fools for Christ's sake

April Fool's Day used to be one of my favorite days when I was a kid. I loved thinking of ways to shock people with some declaration, and then say, "April fool's!" I couldn't wait to get to school, where there would be plenty of suckers who would be my unwitting victims. But of course, they would know it was April Fool's Day too, and wouldn't take the bait of my conjured-up tales.

I experienced April fool's day in a slightly different way one April when I was at St. Stephen's Church in Phoenix, when we did a "Holy Humor Sunday" service. We still had the same Eucharist and scripture readings and hymns, but everything was punctuated by religious jokes, and the sermon was focused on the importance of being a joyful Christian.

Recently, I encouraged the Vestry to consider having a "Holy Humor Sunday" the week of the Lucy Fest, and advertise the service as a way of getting into the spirit of humor, to show people that not all Christians are stodgy and take themselves too seriously. We need to show people that we can laugh at ourselves and even look a little foolish, which is the root of all humor: hu-mus, or earthy, down-to-earth. For more information about Holy Humor Sunday check out the website http://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/, and click on the Holy Humor Sunday tab.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and said that the he and the other apostles were "fools for Christ's sake," (I Cor. 4:10), the "refuse of the world," and admonished the too-proud Corinthians to become more like them. And while most of us do not like to look foolish, he is saying that when we are filled with God's Spirit, we become humble in the ways of the world, to the point that we may even seem foolish TO the world. Just look at who we worship! An itinerant preacher who got in trouble with the authorities, and ended up executed!

Just as with so many spiritual paradoxes, foolishness becomes wisdom when it comes to the ways of God, as we come to understand how God is at work in the world, while those who claim to be wise and think they have all the answers, are actually fools.

Wouldn't it be great to have this gentle sense of humor about ourselves, and to be able to laugh at the many foibles of human nature, instead of steaming about them and adding them to a long list of pet peeves? You can bet that God has a good sense of humor! Just look at some of his creations!

In This Issue

Becoming Foos for Christ's sake

Weekly Calendar

Easter Flowers

Adult Forum

CHURCH SCHOOL

Jamestown Concert Association presents

Makiing Palm Crosses

Theatre for a Cause

Thumbs Up!

Love INC Purse Auction

THRIFT SHOP SALE!

Midnight Watch again this year

Quick Links

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Weekly Calendar

SAT, APRIL 5

10 am - 1 pm
Thrift Shop Open

5 pm Holy Communion, Rite I, Chapel

Sunday, April 6
8 am HE - Chapel

9 am Adult Forum & Church School -undercroft

10 am HE, Rite II - church

No Selling Water book talk today

5 pm CONFIRMATION service with Bishop Franklin

MON, April 7

6-7 pm Brownies - undercroft

TUES, April 8

9 am - 12 noon
Thrift Shop receiving

5:30 pm Bishop Overs Guid

WED, April 9
7:30 am Men's Bible Study

6 pm Lenten Soup Supper and Program

7 pm Youth Group -
3rd floor parish house

THURS, April 10

8:30 am Women's Bible Study

9 - 11 am 4th Street Cafe - undercroft

10 am - 2 pm Thrift Shop Open

12:05 pm Healing Service - Chapel

5 pm Making Palm Crosses in the kitchen

7 pm Choir

7:30 pm Theatre for a Cause - 12 Angry Men @ Spire Studio Metro - benefits the Prendergast Library

FRI, April 11
10 am - 2 pm Thrift Shop Open

7:30 12 Angry Men @ the Spire

SAT, April 12
10 am - 1 pm
Thrift Shop Open

5 pm Holy Eucharist, Rite 1 - chapel

7:30 12 Angry Men at the Spire

SUNDAY, April 13
Palm Sunday

8 am -HE, Rite One - Chapel

9 am Church School & Adult Forum

10 am - HE, Rite II - church - recess in silence; no coffee hour

11:30 am SLY, Jr meets with the Rankins!

4 pm Selling Water by the River - stage area

Prayer Requests
Tristan Stormer; Pat Martonis; Martha Herbst; Cheryl Hill; Peter Bumsted; Kim Mann; Nancy McKenzie; Barb Foulk; Mary O'Connor; Kirk Cardone; Linda Carlson; Ellen Peterson; Jeff Hopkins; Luke; Barb; Richard Meier; Daniel, Mike, AJ, and Pat, Patrick

EASTER FLOWERS
Submit your EASTER Flower Memorials and Thanksgivings in the envelopes provided with your pledge envelope box, in the pews and in this issue of the VOICE. Please be sure we have them in the office by Monday April 14^th. Your generous donations to honor loved ones helps the Altar Guild prepare a beautiful altar for Easter!

ADULT FORUM

On Sunday, April 6 (Yay, April!), the Forum will finally begin a series on "Mindful Living/Mindful Faith". This "Mindful Living" - what is it? Is it just another fad - or is there something more to it? We will begin the series by discussing the above and then move into the "Mindful Faith" portion the following week.

Join us at 9:00 am on the stage area of the undercroft.

ON SUNDAY, April 13, the Forum will continue with this series.

CHURCH SCHOOL

This past Sunday's project for our Church School was making the "Agony in the Garden" diorama. Wow! The kids each did a great job with their projects, and the adults were all fascinated! All school aged children are invited to join in Sunday Morning Church School program beginning at 9 am .... with breakfast available. Debbie Cardone is our Church School Director and works hard to make each Sunday a fun learning experience for our kids. As we continue through Lent the church school works to solve the "Lent Mystery," and learn about lessons in light and darkness, and struggles and sacrifices and what all this represents to us as Children of God.

Selling Water by the River
*Selling Water by the River* will NOT meet on Sunday the 6th as we will be celebrating Confirmation with the Bishop. Plan to meet next Sunday, April 13th

SYMPHORIA !
*Jamestown Concert Association presents* *Symphoria!* Thursday, April 10, 2014 8:00 PM Reg Lenna Center for the Arts Juan LaManna, Conductor Mayuko Kamio,Violin soloist *Vivaldi - The Four Seasons* *Grieg - "Last Spring" from Two Elegiac Melodies* *Schumann - Symphony No. 1 "Spring"* Tickets available at the Reg Lenna Box Office or call 484-7070

Making Palm Crosses Thursday April 10th
Thursday, April 10^th. Join in as members of the altar guild attempt to create palm branch crosses for Palm Sunday, ( April 13^th) Meet in the church kitchen after 5 pm and learn the "secret" of creating a palm cross.

Theatre for a Cause
Theatre for a Cause presents"12 Angry Men" a play by Reginald Rose, Thursday, Friday & Saturday April 10, 11 & 12 at the Spire Theatre's Studio Metro, 316 E 4^th St, Jamestown. Tickets $12 and proceeds benefit the James Prendergast Library

Thumbs up to our parishioners!
THUMBS UP! & Congratulations to .... Ben Larson - JHS Basketball Class AA Championship game, and key to the City!; Andrew Hill - Director of Operations and Programming for Media One Local Broadcasting Excellence; County Board of Realtors - Rick McMahon; Team Flyer, Olivia Pinciaro, taking 4^th place in Buffalo Challenge; and Kiwanis Kid - Macey Monaghan!

Love In the Name of Christ purse auction!

It's purse auction time with Love INC !

Love In the Name of Christ is looking for any new or nearly new purses, backpacks, or beach bags for their Annual Purse Auction Fundraiser.

The event is being held Friday, April 25^th 6 - 9 pm at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 35 W. Fairmount Ave,

Lakewood, across from HOSPICE.

You can drop off your donations at St Luke's church office or in the undercroft on Sundays, mark them "for Purse Auction." Zion Covenant Church. If you would like to help, please call Chris Kibbe @ 338-9705.

THRIFT SHOP SALE
The 1^st week in April the Thrift Shop is holding a � price sale on items in their store. That's 50% off! During the 2^nd week, April 10, 11 & 12 they will hold their annual Bag Sale of items that are left over. The Thrift Shop will be closed Holy Week, April 14-19. Don't miss out; Stop in for the bargains!

Maundy Thursday Midnight Watch

This year, we will, again, be observing the ancient practice of the Altar Watch, beginning at the end of the Maundy Thursday liturgy, April 17th, around 8 p.m. and continuing until the Good Friday noon service. We invite you to sign up for an hour- or two-hour block of time by calling the office, and come Thursday night and sit in the church, pray or meditate, read or kneel before the altar. This is a time when you are being asked to stay with Jesus in his hour of need, and to contemplate what you already know will be the greatest sacrifice God has ever made for humankind.

"Stay with me, remain here with me..."

St Luke's Relay for Life Team

St. Luke's For Life

Relay for Life Team

May 31, 2014

Frewsburg Central School

Did you know that the Relay For Life really is not just a one-day event?

Did you know the money raised for the Relay For Life goes to help millions of people not just cancer research?

Fundraising goes throughout the year, and it helps millions of people in the many programs that the American Cancer Society offers. Relay For Life is purplebecause purple represents all of the cancers, and purple is often called "uplifting," it encourages creativity, calms the mind and nerves, and offers a sense of spirituality. You, too, can be a part of our

St. Luke's For Life Team!

Go to RelayForLife.org/SoChautauquaNY

to join St. Luke's For Life.

For more information about participating and supporting

Relay For Life, speak to Susan Schrader.

The Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin, Bishop of Western New York

The Rev. Elizabeth Simmons, Interim Rector

The Rev. Cathleen Smith, Deacon

Kim Johnstone Mann, Secretary/Administrator

Barbara Bumsted, Director of Adult Formation

Debra Cardone, Children's Church School Ministry

Andrew Schmidt, Organist & Choirmaster

Paul Johnson and Linda Dawson, Wardens.

Office: 410 North Main St., Jamestown NY 14701

Phone (716) 483-6405 * Fax (716)483-6406

Learn more about us on our website:

http://www.stlukesjamestown.org